Our full-day Waqrapukara Trekking tour will take you to explore an impressive Inca temple located in the Andes mountains of Cusco. This fortress, built atop one of the steepest mountains, is an architectural gem shrouded in mystery. Additionally, this hiking experience will immerse you in an area seldom visited by travelers, taking you off the traditional Cusco trails.
Waqrapukara is a new tourist attraction whose enigmas remain unsolved. This site offers spectacular views of the night sky, filled with constellations, planets, and stars—key elements of the Inca worldview. Fortress, sanctuary, and astronomical observatory are some of the interpretations associated with this fascinating monument of classic Inca architecture, located 4,300 meters above sea level, in the depths of the Apurímac River canyon, south of Cusco.
The Waqrapukara Trek is typically conducted as a private tour for a minimum of two people. Travelers undertaking the trip to Waqrapukara should be in good physical condition and properly acclimated to the altitude of the Cusco region. We suggest doing this hike after visiting Machu Picchu.
Travelers should be physically prepared for this tour, as it includes approximately 5.5 hours of hiking (round trip). This tour is ideal for those who enjoy walking, connecting with nature, and venturing beyond traditional excursions.
We recommend avoiding the Waqrapukara tour in January, February, and March due to heavy rains in the region.
Itinerary
Day 1: CUSCO – CHUQUICAHUANA – ACOMAYO – ACOS – WAQRAPUKARA – CUSCO
Early in the morning, around 4:40 a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to begin our Waqrapukara Trekking Tour at 5:00 a.m. We will head southeast of the city on a drive of approximately 2.5 hours. At 7:30 a.m., you will enjoy a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant in the town of Acomayo.
At 8:30 a.m., we will start a 3-hour hike at an altitude of 12,000 feet, crossing the plains of Cusco until we reach the ancient Inca fortress of Waqrapukara.
Around 11:30 a.m., we will arrive at the fortress, where you will have about an hour to explore this mystical and enigmatic archaeological site. You’ll learn about its history and significance as a religious and astronomical center for the Incas.
At 1:00 p.m., we will begin the return hike to the point where our transport will be waiting, a trek of approximately 2.5 hours.
At 3:30 p.m., you will enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant. After lunch, we’ll head back to Cusco, a drive that usually takes about 3 hours.
We will arrive in Cusco around 7:30 p.m., concluding this incredible experience.
Inclusions
Tour Includes:
- Hotel Pickup: Pickups start at 4:40 a.m.; the timing can be customized.
- Professional Guide (Spanish, English, or Portuguese): You can choose the tour language.
- Transport: Includes tourist transport to the attractions.
- First Aid Kit and Oxygen Tank
- Trekking Poles
- Breakfast and Buffet Lunch: A breakfast is provided at the start of the tour, and a buffet meal is served at the end.
- **Breakfast:** Andean bread (pan chuta), pancakes, fruit salad (diced watermelon and papaya), jam and butter, 2 types of cereal (granola and crispy rice), 2 types of yogurt (strawberry or vanilla), and scrambled eggs. Hot beverages such as coffee, hot chocolate, and muña tea are available, and sometimes juice and salad are served.
- **Lunch:** Options include spaghetti, white meats (chicken cracklings, beef stew, trout cracklings), red meats (lamb stew, beef loin, pork cracklings), quinoa fried rice, legumes, Andean potatoes, and white or vegetable rice. There are also 2 types of salads: cooked (carrots, broccoli) and raw (lettuce, cucumber, tomato), offering excellent vegetarian options. You can also enjoy a quinoa soup. Desserts include purple corn pudding, rice pudding, gelatin, or peach compote. Hot beverages like muña tea, coca tea, and coffee are included.
Does not include
- Dinner
- Personal expenses
- Beverages (beer, wine, bottled water)
Recommendations
- Oxyshot, in case it’s needed to adapt to the lack of oxygen
- Good trekking shoes
- 1 liter of water
- Camera
- Sweater and gloves for the cold
- Raincoat or poncho
- Sportswear
- Hat or cap
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Standard backpack
- Extra money
Faqs
TREKKING TO WAQRAPUKARA
Waqrapukara (from Quechua: waqra, “horn,” and pukara, “fortress”; “horn-shaped fortress”) or Huacrapucará is an Inca archaeological complex located in the rural community of Huayqui, annexed to Percca in the district of Acos, within the province of Acomayo, in the Cusco region. It is situated near the Apurímac River at an altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level.
Originally built by the Canchis people and later conquered by the Incas, it was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation in July 2017 by the Ministry of Culture. The site is believed to have been an Inca sanctuary and features structures built on terraces, plazas, and a forest of stone formations.